The newly formed defense council of Leningrad, or aktiv, issues an Appeal to the People of Leningrad on 21 August 1941. It is posted on city walls throughout the city. Signed by Marshal Kliment Voroshilov, local defense leader and governor Andrei Zhdanov, and chairman of the Leningrad Soviet Pyotr Popkov, the statement concluded:
“Let us, like one man, rise to the defense of our city, of our homes and families, our freedom and honor. Let us do our sacred duty as Soviet patriots in our relentless struggle against a hated and ruthless enemy, let us be vigilant and merciless in dealing with cowards, panic-mongers, and deserters, let us establish the strictest revolutionary discipline in our city. Armed with such iron discipline and Bolshevik organization, let us meet the enemy and throw him back.”
Among other things, the Appeal is notable for its references to “Soviet patriotism” — a concept that the Soviets will quickly replace with calls to protect “Mother Russia,” a much more compelling concept. Soviet citizens see phrases like “iron discipline” and shudder.
In the evening, Stalin calls Zhdanov and Voroshilov and berates them. He asks why they had set up the aktiv without first asking his permission, and why Zhdanov and Voroshilov themselves were not actually members of it (presumably so that they could control it). They replied lamely that the council would help with the defense of the city, which did not mollify Stalin at all.
Stalin immediately orders a “review” of the Council for the Defense of Leningrad and that its membership should be “revised” to include Voroshilov and Zhdanov. He also officially rebukes the two men for forming worker “battalions” with inadequate weapons and orders that new leaders of these battalions — selected by the Kremlin — be installed.
Stalin’s reaction seems excessive until you remember that the previous Russian revolution — the one that installed him as its dictator — began in Leningrad. Having the city cut off by the Germans means it cannot be supplied and thus is at risk, but it also means that Stalin himself has no direct control over it. This raises all sorts of unpleasant possibilities for the Kremlin in general and Stalin in particular. Stalin’s chief of police, Lavrentiy Beria, has his ear at this time and is feeding Stalin’s innate paranoia about disloyalty and insurrections that stem from Stalin’s own rise to power.
Stalin rejects a proposal by Admiral Vladimir Tributs, in charge of the evacuation of Tallinn and technically in charge of the overall defense of Leningrad, to organize a naval offensive from Tallinn toward Narva to blunt the German advance. This would use the fleet marines, the 25,000 men of 10th Corps defending Tallinn, and the garrisons of the Baltic Islands in a desperate bid to restore land communications with Leningrad.
Admiral Tributs’ plan is based on aerial reconnaissance showing that the Germans have all of their troops in the front lines and none in reserve. He believes that any quick thrust to the east into the rear of their lines approaching Leningrad might catch them off guard. The plan is imaginative and daring and is better than anything else being considered. However, Stalin apparently is worried about a new, growing power block centered around Leningrad that is outside of his control due to the intervening presence of the Wehrmacht. The official reason given for turning it down is that it would be too difficult to assemble sufficient forces.
Around this time, Stalin orders an increase in the powers of the Commissariat of Internal Affairs to maintain “social order.” This greatly enhances the power of Lavrentiy Beria, head of the secret police. Using his new authority, Beria begins culling out civilian and military leaders by accusing them of “anti-Soviet activity” and “counterrevolutionary thoughts.” In the Soviet Union, of course, thoughts alone can be a crime.
At the Wolfsschanze in East Prussia, Adolf Hitler also is unhappy, but because of an old and lingering problem. He resents the continued efforts by his generals, particularly those in Army Group Center, to direct the Operation BARBAROSSA offensive toward Moscow. He orders:
“The proposal by the army for the continuation of the operations in the east, dated 18.8, do not meet with my approval. I order the following: The principal objective that must be achieved before the onset of winter is not the capture of Moscow, but rather in the south the occupation of the Crimea and the industrial and coal region of the Donets, together with the isolation of the Russian oil regions in the Caucasus. In the north, the encirclement of Leningrad and the union with the Finns.”
General Franz Halder, who also sees Moscow as the best objective, writes in his diary, “It [this Hitler directive] is decisive for the outcome of the campaign.” General Alfred Jodl, chief of operations at OKW, quickly instructions Commander of the Army Field Marshal von Brauchitsch to focus on seizing the Crimea and the materials-rich areas in the south. The only important objective in the north is Leningrad, and Moscow is a secondary objective.
In the Far North sector, the Finnish General Headquarters orders IV Corps (Lt. Gen. Lennart Oesch) to begin pursuing the retreating Soviets toward Viipuri. This is a day earlier than planned, and the change is due to the Finns noticing that the Soviets have left. The overall intent is to take Viipuri and all of western Karelian Isthmus. In southern Karelia IV Corps (Lt. Gen. Oesch) starts its attack today, one day earlier than originally planned. The Corps consists of 12th ID (Col. Vihma), IR 25 and 8th ID (Col. Winell) with 4th ID (Col. Viljanen) in reserve. It is opposed by the three divisions of the Soviet 23rd Army (123rd, 43rd and 115th divs). The aim is to encircle and destroy the Soviet troops around Viipuri and western Karelian Isthmus. The attack is originally planned for 22 August but on the 21st it is found out that the Soviet troops are withdrawing along the whole front. The Finnish troops are ordered to immediately pursue the enemy.
The defending Soviet troops of 43rd, 115th, and 123rd Rifle Divisions by now have escaped from their exposed positions further north and have fallen back on the city. This has improved the overall Soviet chances of holding a line north of Leningrad at the narrow part of the Karelian Isthmus. The Finnish II Corps and 18th Division, assisted by other units, continue consolidating their bridgehead over the Vuoksi River. The Soviets plan to swing the 115th and 123rd Rifle Divisions over to counterattack them in order to establish a solid line on the Vuoksi. The Finns take Kexholm (Käkisalmi, Priozersk) on the northeast shore of Lake Ladoga.
In the Army Group North sector, the Germans capture Chudovo. This solidifies the Germans’ control over the approaches to Leningrad by expanding control over the railway line from Moscow which they cut on the 20th. There is still one remaining railway link from Leningrad to the east at Mga, but it is not a direct connection to the main Soviet railway net centered on Moscow. Further west, the Wehrmacht also is pushing north towards the Gulf of Finland. The effect of these advances is that the Soviet defenders of the Luga Line are being outflanked on either side, forming a perilous Soviet salient extending 130 miles south from Leningrad, but only thirteen miles wide. German troops take Gatchina, 25 miles from Leningrad.
In the Army Group Center sector, the Soviets retreat from Gomel after a fierce defense and several unsuccessful counterattacks. German Panzer Group 2 (General Guderian) continues advancing south between Bryansk and Gomel toward Kyiv. Soviet 24th Army continues attacking the German “lightning rod” position at Yelnya throughout the day, but Red Army General Rakutin finally receives Stavka permission to stop his attacks until he gets reinforcements and replacements.
In the Army Group South sector, the Romanians continue pressing in around Odessa. However, they are encountering fierce resistance and making little progress. The Stavka has ordered no evacuation — the men are to stay and fight regardless of the outcome. The Soviet Black Sea Fleet, led by cruiser Krasny Krym, bombards Romanian positions at Sverdlovka and Chebanka near Odesa.
German 1.SS-Infanterie-Brigade (mot.) Leibstandarte der SS Adolf Hitler (Obergruppenfuhrer Sepp Dietrich) captures Kherson (Cherson). Sixth Army continues pursuing the retreating Soviet 5th Army, and LI Corps establishes a crossing of the Dneipr at Okuminovo, north of Kyiv.
General Hoth completes a refit of Panzer Group 3. He notes the following strengths:
• Panzer Division 7: 45%
• Panzer Division 12: 45%
• Panzer Division 19: 60%
• Panzer Division 20: 49%
By current standards in the Wehrmacht, this is about average. By later standards, this is very well equipped. The war is taking a serious toll on men and their equipment.
The Spanish Blue Division (250th Infantry Division) begins moving to the Eastern Front south of Leningrad.
Soviet planes attack the German 3rd Ferry Battalion which is ferrying troops in Riga Bay in company with two Soviet destroyers. Some small Soviet ships, including freighter Leeni, hit mines and sink in German Minefield Juminda between Hogland Island (Suursaari) to Reval, Estonia.
Soviet destroyers Artem and Surovyi hit and damage German gunboat SAT-1 Ost in the Baltic. The gunboat’s skipper manages to beach the boat, and it is later salvaged. There is one death.
The first Allied Arctic convoy, codenamed DERVISH, set sail from Hvalfjörður, Iceland for Arhangelsk, Russia. It includes six freighters and an oiler escorted by three destroyers, three minesweepers, and three minesweeper trawlers. They are covered by the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, heavy cruisers Devonshire and Suffolk, and destroyers Eclipse, Escapade, and Inglefield. The ships will stop first at Spitzbergen to refuel.
In a companion operation to Operation DERVISH, today at 22:00 Force K leaves Hvalfjord bound for operations against coal fields in Bergensburg, Norway, with part of the force proceeding on to Archangel. The voyage to Archangel is planned to take ten days.
The Royal Navy is conducting submarine patrols along the Arctic sea route. Submarine HMS Trident launches an attack on a Norwegian tanker and an accompanying Kriegsmarine artillery training ship off the northern coast of Norway but misses.
The Soviets also are active along the northern sea routes. Soviet submarine M-172 (Lt Cdr Israel Fisanovich) makes a daring entrance into the Liinakhamari fjord but misses when it attacks German freighter Monsun docked at the Pechenga pier (some accounts state that he sinks a ship).
While laying a minefield about 50 km off Jæderens Point/Egerö, southeastern Norway, Free French submarine Rubis (Lt Cdr Rousselot) attacks two freighters but misses. It does sink 4360-ton Finnish freighter Hogland with one of the mines that it lays. Rubis itself is damaged when two torpedoes misfire and explode just after leaving the submarine. Rubis eventually makes it to Dundee for repairs. The Germans order the 11th Minesweeping Flotilla to the area to clear the minefield.
Arrests by French police at the instigation of the Gestapo that began on the evening of the 20th continue today. Those arrested are sent to the new internment camp at Drancy in the suburbs. Conditions at Drancy are horrendous and there is a high death rate. Eventually, the victims will be put on cattle wagons for transport to concentration camps in the East. At this time, the arrests concentrate on “foreign” Jews who are in France only because they fled previous German invasions in Czechoslovakia, Poland and elsewhere.
In revenge for the execution two days earlier of the French Resistance member Samuel Tyszelman, communist activist Pierre Georges assassinated German naval cadet Alfons Moser at the Barbès-Rochechouart metro station in Paris by shooting him in the back.. The military administration immediately announced that French citizens detained for the Germans would be considered hostages, and therefore liable to be shot. This was the first German military casualty in occupied France since the armistice was signed over a year ago. Over 150 Parisians were shot in reprisal. This marked the beginning of a cycle of assassinations by Resistance fighters and retribution from authorities that would claim hundreds of lives.
The Bila Tserkva massacre took place in the Ukrainian city of Bila Tserkva. After direct orders from Sixth Army Commanding General Walther von Reichenau, German 295th Division participates to some extent in the killing of about 90 Jewish children who have been abandoned and locked in a school at Bila Tserkva. The incident is notable for many reasons, including a direct protest to the army by two Wehrmacht chaplains about the killings which delayed it by a day. Oberst (Lieutenant-Colonel Helmuth Groscurth) has put his own career in jeopardy by forwarding the protest of the chaplains to the army headquarters. Technically, SS units are under army control, so the army has the final say on who is killed and who is not. Catholic Father Ernst Tewes, one of the two chaplains (the other being Lutheran Pastor Gerhard Wilczek), later comments:
“All those we wanted to save were shot. Because of our initiative it just happened a few days later than planned.”
Reichenau is put out by the entire affair. He writes in response to the request:
“The conclusion of the report in question contains the following sentence: “In the case in question, measures against women and children were undertaken which in no way differ from atrocities carried out by the enemy about which the troops are continually being informed.” I have to describe this assessment as incorrect, inappropriate and impertinent in the extreme. Moreover, this comment was written in an open communication which passes through many hands. It would have been far better if the report had not been written at all.”
There is no question that the regular army participated to some extent in the killings aside from Reichenau’s order. A witness, an SS soldier, recalled later that the regular army dug the trench into which the children fell after being shot. Exactly who shot the children is unclear. Ukrainians unhappily watch the executions.
A concentration camp at Jasenovac, Croatia becomes operational.
Operation MINCEMEAT, an attack on Sardinia, begins when Force H leaves Gibraltar. It is led by battleship HMS Nelson and aircraft carrier Ark Royal. The Italians quickly receive word of its departure and prepare a response.
The Luftwaffe bombs and damages 311-ton Egyptian freighter El Fath at Famagusta. There are four deaths.
British 10,893-ton freighter Durham, which arrived at Malta during Operation Substance, departs from Malta toward Gibraltar without an escort. A fast ship, it perhaps is counting on the distraction caused by Force H. Durham hits a mine west of Pantelleria Island, but eventually makes it to Gibraltar for repairs.
Operation TREACLE, the replacement of the Australian 18th Infantry Brigade at Tobruk with troops of the Polish Carpathian Brigade, continues. Destroyers Griffin, Jackal, and Kandahar carry the troops.
Early in the morning, around 06:30, the Luftwaffe (Junkers Ju-88 aircraft of III/LG.1) hits and damages destroyer Nizam returning from an Operation Treacle run. Nizam, which is hit north of Bardia, is taken under tow until it regains engine operation. Nizam makes it back to Alexandria under its own power.
Royal Navy submarine HMS Taku arrives at Malta with supplies from Alexandria.
Herman Bernhard Ramcke who flew out to Crete in May to replace the dead General Meindl receives the Knight’s Cross for his decision and subsequent leadership. As does Dr. Heinrich Neumann who took over command of I. Battalion Sturm Regiment.
It is another fairly quiet day on the Channel front.
RAF Bomber Command, Day of 21 August 1941
24 Blenheims in raids on Ijmuiden steelworks, which were bombed, and on Chocques chemical factory, but this target was not reached. No losses. 3 Fortresses to Düsseldorf turned back.
An RAF Hurricane Mk. IIB on a delivery flight, S/n Z5070, crash-lands at Athboy, County Meath. The Irish Army Air Corps repairs the damaged plane and puts it into service as the Corps’ sixth fighter (the others are three Gloster Gladiator Mk. Is, another Hurricane Mk. IIB, and a Hurricane Mk. X).
During a Luftwaffe attack on Southampton, the Germans bomb and sink French drifter Gloria in Excelsis Deo. The drifter later is raised and repaired.
A Luftwaffe Focke-Wulfe Fw-200 Condor spots Convoy OG.71 and radios its position.
Ten Wellington bombers based on Malta damage buildings and port infrastructure at Tripoli Harbor.
Three Italian aircraft make low-flying attacks on Hal Far and the Safi dispersal area. A dogfight with Hurricanes ensues. A Bofors crew guarding the area claims to make some hits on one of the attackers.
Force K of light cruisers HMS Nigeria and HMS Aurora and destroyers HMS Anthony, HMS Antelope, and HMS Icarus departed Hvalfjord at 2200 escorting troopship Empress of Canada on Operations GAUNTLET and BENEDICT. Oiler RFA Oligarch arrived at Spitzbergen on the 24th, escorted by trawlers HMS Hazel and HMS Elm. After demolishing the coal fields at Bergensburg, light cruiser Nigeria departed on the 26th with destroyers Anthony, Antelope, and Icarus escorting troopship Empress of Canada to Archangel. On the 26th, Norwegian colliers Ingerto (3089grt), Nandi (1999grt), and Munin (1285grt) taken as prizes, escorted by anti-submarine trawler HMS Sealyham, and until the morning of 27 August by light cruiser Aurora, departed Spitzbergen for Hvalfjord, arriving on 1 September. This convoy was designated Convoy Drover. These ships returned to Spitzbergen on 1 September and joined light cruiser Aurora. Convoy Dervish departed Liverpool on the 12th, escorted by anti-aircraft ship HMS Pozarica and minesweeping trawlers HMS Celia (545grt), HMS Hamlet (545grt), and HMS Macbeth (545grt), anti-submarine trawlers HMS St. Cathan (565grt) and HMS Le Tigre (516grt) for Reykjavik. The convoy called at Scapa Flow on the 15th and departed at 1800/16th with destroyers HMS Electra, HMS Impulsive, and HMS Active with light cruiser Aurora as additional escort until 18 August.
The convoy departed Reykjavik on the 21st with British steamers Lancanstrian Prince (1914grt), New Westminster City (4747grt), Esneh (1931grt), Llanstephan Castle (11,348grt), and Trehata (4817grt), Dutch steamer Alchiba (4427grt), and British oiler RFA Aldersdale escorted by destroyers HMS Electra, HMS Active, and HMS Impulsive, minesweepers HMS Halcyon, HMS Harrier, and HMS Salamander, and minesweeping trawlers HMS Hamlet, HMS Macbeth, and HMS Ophelia. The convoy was covered by aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, heavy cruisers HMS Devonshire and HMS Suffolk, and destroyers HMS Eclipse, HMS Escapade, and HMS Inglefield from 24 to 30 August, when the ships called at Spitzbergen to refuel. The convoy arrived on the 31st at Archangel.
Destroyers HMS Somali and HMS Oribi departed Scapa Flow escorting aircraft carrier HMS Furious to Greenock. The ships arrived at Greenock at 0245/22nd. Destroyer Oribi proceeded to Glasgow for repairs. Destroyer Somali returned to Scapa Flow, arriving at 0700/23rd.
Heavy cruiser HMS Shropshire departed Hvalfjord for Scapa Flow, via Akureyri and East of Iceland. The cruiser arrived at Scapa Flow on the 24th.
Destroyer HMS Newark departed Scapa Flow at 1730 to rejoin the Minelaying Command at Loch Alsh.
At 2100 a U-boat was suspected attempting to force a passage into Scapa Flow. A patrol was established through the night with destroyers HMS Lightning, HMS Matabele, HMS Intrepid, and HMS Puckeridge, trawlers, and motor launches.
Anti-aircraft ship HMS Curacoa departed Scapa Flow at 0700 and escorted convoy WN.70 from Pentland Firth to May Island. On this date, the anti-aircraft ships operating with the WN.and EC.convoys came under the administration of Commander in Chief, Rosyth.
French submarine Rubis, which departed Dundee on the 14th, laid mines in minefield FD 33 off Jaederens. At 1535/21st, the submarine attacked two steamers and sank Finnish steamer Hogland (4360grt) in 58-16N, 4-48E. In the attack, two torpedoes exploded shortly after leaving the torpedo tubes and damaged the submarine. Early on the 22nd, the submarine was able to signal her situation. Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Curacoa, which was already at sea with convoy WN.70, destroyers HMS Lively and HMS Lightning, which departed Scapa Flow at 0600/22nd, destroyer HMS Wolfhound, anti-submarine trawlers HMS Clevella and HMS Filey Bay, and tug HMS Abeille IV were sent to assist. Destroyers Lively and Lightning arrived back at Scapa Flow at 2100/24th. En route, destroyer Lightning rescued three Norwegians from Bergen in a dinghy. The submarine, escorted by destroyer Wolfhound, arrived at Dundee on the 24th for repairs.
French drifter Gloria In Excelsio Deo was damaged by German bombing at Southampton. The drifter sank, but was later raised and repaired.
Force H departed Gibraltar with battleship HMS Nelson, aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, light cruiser HMS Hermione, and destroyers HMAS Nestor, HMS Forester, HMS Fury, HMS Foresight, and HMS Encounter for operations against Sardinia in Operation MINCEMEAT.
On the 23rd, Italian battleships Littorio and Veneto with six destroyers departed Taranto and heavy cruisers Trieste, Trento, Bolzano, and Gorizia with four destroyers departed Messina to guard against Force H operations. Five destroyers departed Trapani and joined the Italian force. Light cruisers Abruzzi, Attendolo, and Montecuccoli of the 8th Cruiser Division and five destroyers departed Palermo and were stationed north of Tunisia.
On the 24th, British air reconnaissance sighted the Italian battleship force. After HMS Ark Royal aircraft dropped incendiary bombs in the cork woods west and southeast of Tempio, Sardinia, Force H returned to Gibraltar.
The Force H operations were a diversion for a minelaying by minelayer HMS Manxman. The minelayer had departed England on the 17th and arrived at Gibraltar on the 21st. Minelayer Manxman departed Gibraltar early on the 22nd, disguised as a French Leopard destroyer for the passage to and from off Livorno in the Gulf of Genoa, where mines were successfully laid.
Submarine HMS Upholder reported sighting one Italian battleship, two heavy cruisers, and six destroyers in the Central Mediterranean on the 24th. The submarine made an unsuccessful attack on light cruiser Luigi Di Savoia in 38-30N, 12-00E.
British steamer Durham (10,893grt), which departed Malta independently on the 21st for Gibraltar, was damaged by mining west of Pantelleria. The steamer arrived at Gibraltar on the 24th and was drydocked for damage.
British steamer Deucalion (7516grt) departed Malta on the 26th and proceeded independently to Gibraltar, followed by destroyer HMS Farndale. Both arrived at Gibraltar on the 29th. The steamer having sustained slight damage by mine explosion.
On the 26th, while the Italian forces were returning to port, Submarine HMS Triumph sighted a group of these ships composed of battleship Littorio, heavy cruisers Bolzano and Trieste, and ten destroyers. Submarine Triumph torpedoed and badly damaged heavy cruiser Bolzano north of Messina.
Battleship HMS Nelson, aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, light cruiser HMS Hermione, and destroyers of the operation arrived back at Gibraltar on the 26th.
Minelayer HMS Manxman arrived at Gibraltar on the 25th. The minelayer departed Gibraltar on the 26th and arrived back in England on the 30th.
Destroyers HMS Kandahar, HMS Griffin, and HMS Jackal departed Alexandria for Tobruk in the third series of the TREACLE operation. The destroyers returned to Alexandria on the 22nd.
Destroyer HMAS Napier departed Port Said for Alexandria after turbine repairs to rejoin the Mediterranean Fleet. On the destroyer’s arrival at Alexandria on the 22nd, Captain D.7th Destroyer Flotilla reembarked.
A report that British liner Dunera (11,162grt) was under attack by aircraft caused Australian minesweeper HMAS Bathurst to be diverted to search for her. Anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Coventry was sailed from Suez to protection shipping in anchorage F. Sloop Flamingo departed Port Said for Suez. It was later discovered the report was an inaccurate rebroadcast of SOS of the tanker Turbo attack.
Gunboat HMS Gnat departed Alexandria to relieve gunboat HMS Aphis at Mersa Matruh.
Greek light cruiser RHS Averoff departed Port Sudan for Aden and Bombay for boiler repairs.
Egyptian steamer El Fath (311grt) was damaged by German bombing at Famagusta. Four crewmen were killed.
British steamer Atlantic Coast (890grt) departed Gibraltar for Freetown, escorted by anti-submarine trawler HMS Stella Carina until dark.
Submarine HMS Taku arrived at Malta from Alexandria with stores. On the 25th, the submarine departed for Gibraltar, arriving on 1 September. She departed on 4 September and proceeded to Chatham for refitting, arriving on 15 October, via Rothesay on 13 September and Blyth on 6 October.
Submarine HMS Unbeaten arrived at Malta after patrol.
Convoy HX.146 departed Halifax escorted by armed merchant cruiser HMS Worcestershire and corvettes HMCS Kenogami, HMCS Moose Jaw, and HMCS Prescott. Corvettes HMCS Barrie and HMCS Matapedia joined on the 22nd. The corvettes were detached on the 24th when relieved by destroyer HMS Broadway and corvettes HMCS Cobalt, HMS Polyanthus, and HMCS Trail. The entire escort, including the armed merchant cruiser was detached on 2 September when relieved by destroyers HMS Keppel, HMS Lincoln, HMCS Niagara, HMS Sabre, HMS Shikari, and HMS Venomous, corvettes HMS Alisma, HMS Alysse, HMCS Collingwood, HMS Dianella, and HMS Sunflower, and anti-submarine trawlers HMS Lady Elsa and HMS Man O’ War. Destroyer Niagara and corvettes Alysse and Collingwood were detached later that day. Destroyers Lincoln and Sabre, corvettes Alisma, Dianella, and Sunflower, and the trawlers were detached on 5 September. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 6 September.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt addresses the U.S. Congress about the Atlantic Charter. President Roosevelt gave Congress a terse report on his meeting with Winston Churchill today and asserted that a peace on Nazi terms would mean only a breathing spell of preparation for a Nazi conquest of the American hemisphere. His report was contained in a special message to congress, which repeated the eight-point declaration of principles signed at the sea meeting and said these were difficult to oppose without admitting a willingness to compromise with Nazism. In addition, the chief executive emphasized that “the world-wide need for freedom of religion and freedom of information” was included in the joint Anglo-American objectives. As Roosevelt later notes:
“There isn’t any copy of the Atlantic Charter, so far as I know. I haven’t got one. The British haven’t got one. The nearest thing you will get is the [message of the] radio operator on Augusta and Prince of Wales. That’s the nearest thing you will come to it. … There was no formal document.”
Roosevelt briefs Congress on the agreement, summarizing its points, stating in part:
“Finally, the declaration of principles at this time presents a goal which is worth while for our type of civilization to seek. It is so clear cut that it is difficult to oppose in any major particular without automatically admitting a willingness to accept compromise with Germans; or to agree to a world peace which would give to Reich domination over large numbers of conquered nations. Inevitably such a peace would be a gift to Hitlerism to take breath–armed breath–for a second war to extend the control over Europe and Asia to the American Hemisphere itself.”
The statement concludes:
“It is also unnecessary for me to point out that the declaration of principles includes of necessity the world need for freedom of religion and freedom of information. No society of the world organized under the announced principles could survive without these freedoms which are a part of the whole freedom for which we strive.”
It is around this date that a newspaper reporter coins the term “Atlantic Charter” to refer to the agreement.
President Roosevelt sent a message to Congress concerning his meeting with Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He also sent a request for a supplemental appropriation of $18,988,435 for Coast Guard vessels. He conferred with Myron C. Taylor and L. H. Korndorff, president of the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, on the strike in the company’s Kearny yards. His callers included Edward J. Flynn, national chairman of the Democratic party, and Norman Davis, chairman of the American Red Cross. He met with the Cabinet and later went to Hyde Park.
The Senate approved a resolution for investigation of sleeping sickness in the West, received a bill providing an emergency service bonus for enlisted men of the military services, completed Congressional action on the bill increasing FHA defense housing insurance authority, and adjourned at 12:31 PM until noon Monday. The Agriculture Committee opened hearings on the cattle inspection bill; the Finance Committee continued hearings on the tax bill.
The House received a resolution asking the Army and Navy to report on purported plans for censorship and adjourned at 12:16 PM until noon Monday.
President Roosevelt warned Congress and the American people today that to accept a peace permitting Germany to hold conquered nations in subjection would merely give the Nazis a breathing space to prepare for a second war for the purpose of extending Nazi control “over Europe and Asia to the American Hemisphere itself.” In sending to Congress a report on his Atlantic conference with Prime Minister Churchill, the President declared that only the eight peace aims which he agreed upon with Prime Minister Churchill could serve as a sound basis for genuine world tranquility. “The declaration of principles at this time presents a goal which is worth while for our type of civilization to seek,” Mr. Roosevelt told Congress. “It is so clear cut that it is difficult to oppose in any major particular without automatically admitting a willingness to accept compromise with nazism; or to agree to a world peace which would give to the Nazis domination over large numbers of conquered nations.”
“Inevitably,” the President emphasized, “such a peace would be a gift to Nazism to take breath — armed breath — for a second war to extend the control over Europe and Asia to the American Hemisphere itself. “It is perhaps unnecessary for me to call attention once more to the utter lack of validity of the spoken or written word of the Nazi Government.” Mr. Roosevelt made these declarations at a time when it is widely expected in diplomatic quarters that sooner or later Hitler will undertake a world-wide peace offensive, contending that Germany has obtained all it seeks and is willing to make peace with nations warring with the Reich and to settle differences with other countries. Apparently in answer to printed criticism that freedom of religion had not been mentioned specifically in the eight-point declaration out of deference to Soviet Russia, the President stated in his special message today that “freedom of religion and freedom of information” were implicit in the eight points. “Freedom from fear and want,” the other two components of the President’s four freedoms, were specifically mentioned in the Roosevelt-Churchill declaration.
A message from President Roosevelt to the national convention of Young Democrats, tonight, said that “against naked force the only possible weapon is naked force” and the defense of democracy must be fought on the aggressor’s terms. The President’s message was delivered to delegates from 48 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico by Homer Mat Adams, national president. Democracy, Mr. Roosevelt said, had a new significance with a dual application. “Across both oceans, on the oceans and above the oceans the struggle is one of armed forces, with the ghastly result of destruction and slaughter on a scale unparalleled in modern history,” Mr. Roosevelt added. “It had to be so. The aggressor makes the rules for such a war. The defenders have no alternative but matching destruction with more destruction, slaughter with greater slaughter.” Mr. Roosevelt said that for the most part the passion of partisanship had been eliminated from national leadership during the emergency, but he emphasized that “votes in Congress on the various steps in our preparedness show that partisan politics is still rampant.” “There are a very few who still wear a Democratic label who have joined the obstructionists. I think these are in the wrong party.” Mr. Roosevelt’s message was cheered for five minutes.
A reduction of 26.6 per cent in passenger automobile production for August, September, October and November was ordered today by the Office of Production Management and the Office of Price Administration and Civilian Supplies. Production of 1942 model passenger automobiles probably will be slashed 50 percent, defense officials said today. A total of 4,297,000 passenger cars were made during the 1941 model year which ended the first of this month. A 50 percent reduction would bring this down to 2,148,500, the smallest in any year since 1934.
Despite threats of rationing of oil supplies along the East Coast, executives of leading oil companies are inclined to the opinion that any drastic restriction scheme is unnecessary unless Washington intends to transfer additional tankers to the British war effort or to earmark a sizable part of the gasoline supplies on the East Coast for national defense purposes.
With some members of congress demanding an investigation of the facts behind gasoline rationing in the east, the office of defense petroleum coordination declared today that false figures were being circulated, apparently in a deliberate effort to “confuse the public” into believing diversion of American tankers to British service was unnecessary. The charge was made by Ralph K. Davies, acting petroleum coordinator, who asked the public to be wary of figures “circulated with a definite purpose by uninformed and unofficial sources.”
At the personal request of President Roosevelt, management and labor representatives agreed today to renew discussions looking toward settlement of the strike at the great Kearny, New Jersey, yards of the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.
With negotiators continuing in deadlock and the Detroit Street Railways strike threatening to paralyze municipal transportation in this industrial defense center for a third day tomorrow, Mayor Edward J. Jeffries sought to find a peace formula in conferences tonight with strike leaders.
“Sun Valley Serenade” starring Sonja Henie, John Payne, Milton Berle, Glenn Miller, and Lynn Bari is released. This film screens constantly at the Sun Valley Lodge and Inn in Idaho to this day. “Sun Valley Serenade” receives three Academy Award Nominations, including for Best Music, Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, and Best Music, Original Song (Chattanooga Choo Choo) by Harry Warren (music) and Mack Gordon (lyrics).
Paramount Pictures film “World Premiere” is released. It stars John Barrymore, Frances Farmer, Ricardo Cortez, and Sig Ruman. It is a comedy about the machinations behind releasing an anti-Hitler film.
The motion picture “The Little Foxes” is released today. Based on the play by Lillian Hellman, this drama is directed by William Wyler and stars Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, Teresa Wright (in her film debut), Richard Carlson and Dan Duryea (his film debut). The plot describes the greed and corruption within a crumbling Southern family. Regina (Davis) needs money to invest in a business with her brothers but her husband Horace (Marshall) refuses. Regina’s nephew Leo (Duryea) steals negotiable bonds from Horace’s bank to give the brothers, and when Regina tries to blackmail them, Horace claims the money was a gift. Furious, Regina withholds Horace’s medication knowing he will die without it and after he dies, she forces her brothers to give her two-thirds of their business. Her daughter Alexandra (Wright) learns what has happened and leaves her. The film is nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Wyler), Best Actress (Davis) and Best Supporting Actress (Wright). It does not win any awards.
Major League Baseball:
There was no joy in Flatbush last night. The Dodgers were beaten by the Cubs, 6–2, at Ebbets Field in the afternoon and in a manner that reflected no credit upon a majority of the playing personnel of the Brooklyn pennant aspirants. Brooklyn fell behind 4–0 after three innings. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak by the Dodgers.
Bucky Walters collected his sixteenth victory of the season today and gave the Reds their eleventh triumph in their last twelve starts as they defeated the Braves, 8–5. The Reds hopped on Bill Posedel in the opening inning, belting home two tallies on Eddie Joost’s single, Mike McCormick’s double, Jimmy Gleeson’s long fly and a single by Lonnie Frey.
The Red Sox today ended the White Sox winning streak at nine games and put a stop to a run of thirty-two consecutive shut-out innings by Chicago hurlers. Boston won, 8–5. Ted Williams broke the scoreless string in the second inning when he counted on a wild pitch. The Red Sox went on to tally three more runs in that frame. They knocked the Sox pitcher, Edgar Smith, from the box in the third inning shortly after Joe Cronin hit his thirteenth homer of the year.
The New York Yankees, playing their second game without their matchless Joe DiMaggio, succumbed to the suddenly revived pitching wizardry of Bob Feller and suffered their second successive shut-out. Even more incredible is the fact that the Indians, a sort of auxiliary attachment to the exploits of Feller, actually scored enough runs to win this game, getting two off Atley Donald to record a stunning 2–0 victory in the opening clash of a three-game series.
Sid Hudson and Emil (Dutch) Leonard of the Washington Senators teamed for six-hit pitching performances today, beating the Detroit Tigers in a double-header, 9–0 and 6–3. Washington made sixteen hits off Buck Newsom and Bud Thomas in the opener and fourteen off three hurlers in the nightcap.
Maurice Van Robays, who does a commendable job gathering in flies for Frankie Frisch, crashed a single off the bare hand of Fiddler Bill McGee last night at the Polo grounds, and, before a gathering of 11,845 fans, started the Pirates on the way to a 5–3 victory over the Giants.
The last-place Phillies staged a three-hit ninth-inning onslaught which yielded two runs tonight to edge out the St. Louis Cardinals, 5–4. The end came with a suddenness unusual for the Phils. Trailing 4–3 in the last half of the ninth, Emmett Mueller, first up, banged a sizzling double. Bob Bragan followed suit, sending Mueller home with the tying run. Catcher Ben Warren followed with a game-winning single.
After dropping the first game of a doubleheader by 11–3, the Athletics blanked the Browns, 12–0, behind Tommy Ferrick in the nightcap today. The young right-hander scattered four singles through as many innings and the only runner to reach second base was advanced on an error. Meanwhile the Athletics hammered George Caster and Maurice Newlin for six hits each, including home runs by Bob Johnson, his twenty-first of the season, and Sam Chapman. Chapman also hit two circuit blows in the first game.
Chicago Cubs 6, Brooklyn Dodgers 2
Cincinnati Reds 8, Boston Braves 5
Boston Red Sox 8, Chicago White Sox 5
New York Yankees 0, Cleveland Indians 2
Washington Senators 6, Detroit Tigers 3
Washington Senators 9, Detroit Tigers 0
Pittsburgh Pirates 5, New York Giants 3
St. Louis Cardinals 4, Philadelphia Phillies 5
Philadelphia Athletics 3, St. Louis Browns 11
Philadelphia Athletics 12, St. Louis Browns 0
Japan desires guarantees from the United States that American bombers will not be based in eastern Siberia, a government spokesman said today. The spokesman, Koh Ishii, declined to discuss this subject in detail but he reiterated that Japan is concerned gravely over shipment of American supplies to Russia, but would be less concerned If they were not delivered via the far east. (Shipment via the Far East almost certainly would send American vessels bound for the major Russian port of Vladivostok through Japanese waters and Japan has expressed fear that this would result in German naval action against the vessels in Japanese waters.) Japan’s relations with Britain and the United States were described in informed quarters as “slightly easier” following “some indications” of a clearing up of “technical difficulties” which arose after London and Washington froze Japanese assets and Japan retaliated.
Ambassador Nomura sends a message to Tokyo indicating that President Roosevelt is seriously interested in the resumption of negotiations. Nomura even provides a sample response to Tokyo for its consideration.
Reiterating his repudiation of charges that Americans and British are kept as hostages in Japan, Koh Ishii, the Foreign Office spokesman, at today’s press conference declared that “our civilization is too proud to take hostages.”
Japanese aircraft sank Chinese gunboats Jiangxi and Jiangkun at Bazhong, Sichuan Province, China.
The Imperial Japanese Navy battleships HIJMS Hiei, HIJMS Ise, and HIJMS Hyuga arrive at Hashirajima.
The Imperial Japanese Navy requisitions 5350-ton cargo ship Saigon Maru for use as an auxiliary cruiser and also requisitions 2681-ton freighter Senko Maru.
German 5098-ton freighter Odenwald leaves Yokohama, Japan for Bordeaux, France. Japanese 5019-ton freighter Teisen Maru, formerly German Ursula Rickmers, arrives at Tokyo successfully after her first charter trip carrying coal and lumber from Kushiro, Hokkaido to Nagoya, Japan.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 125.99 (-0.02)
Born:
Jackie DeShannon [Sharon Lee Myers], American singer (“What the World Needs Now Is Love”), and songwriter (“When You Walk In The Room”; “Bette Davis Eyes”), in Hazel, Kentucky.
Tom Coster, American rock and jazz keyboard player and accordionist (Santana; Billy Cobham), in Detroit Michigan.
Tony Clarke, British rock musician and producer (Moody Blues), in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom (d. 2010).
Naval Construction:
The Royal Navy Isles-class minesweeping trawler HMS Orfasy (T 204) is laid down by Alexander Hall & Co. Ltd. (Aberdeen Scotland).
The U.S. Navy Auk-class minesweeper USS Chickadee (AM-59) is laid down by the Defoe Boat and Marine Works (Bay City, Michigan, U.S.A.).
The Nihon Kaigun (Imperial Japanese Navy) Kaidai-type cruiser submarine [KD7 sub-class] (I-176 class) HIJMS I-79 (later I-179) is laid down by the Kawasaki Dockyard Co., Kobe, Japan.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ranger-class fleet support tanker RFA Green Ranger (X 42; postwar A152) is launched by the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company (Dundee, Scotland).
The Royal Canadian Navy Bangor-class (VTE Reciprocating-engined) minesweeper HMCS Grandmere (J 258) is launched by the Canadian Vickers Ltd. (Montreal, Quebec, Canada).
The U.S. Navy 77-foot Elco patrol motor torpedo boat USS PT-48 is launched by the Electric Launch Company Ltd. (Elco), (Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.A.).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type IXC U-boat U-174 is launched by AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1014).
The U.S. Navy submarine USS Gato (SS-212), first of her class of 77, is launched by the Electric Boat Co. (Groton, Connecticut, U.S.A.).
The U.S. Navy Aloe-class net tender USS Palm (YN-23; later AN-28) is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Lieutenant Commander Charles Herbert O’Neil, USNR.
The Royal Navy harbor defence motor launch HMS HDML 1071 is commissioned.
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boat U-376 is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich-Karl Marks.
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boat U-455 is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Kapitänleutnant Hans-Henrich Giessler.
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Type VIIC U-boat U-584 is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Kapitänleutnant Joachim Deecke.
History Diaries 